But when I know that the glass is already broken, every minute with it is precious.
Interpretation
Understanding the impermanence of things makes us value our time with them more.
Ajahn Chah's quote reflects on the nature of impermanence and the importance of appreciating moments as they come. By acknowledging that everything is transient, including our experiences and relationships, we learn to cherish the time we have, making each moment more meaningful, even if it is destined to end.
In practice
In a speech about mindfulness at a corporate retreat, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of valuing the present moment.
Once you understand non-self, then the burden of life is gone. You'll be at peace with the world. When we see beyond self, we no longer cling to happiness and we can truly be happy. Learn to let go without struggle, simply let go, to be just as you are - no holding on, no attachment, free.
When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.
If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
To observe and watch one's own mind is something really interesting. The untrained mind will run and follow its old habit patterns. Because it has not been trained and taught, it will get lost in all kinds of stories and issues. Therefore we have to train our mind. The meditation practice in Buddhism is all about training one's own mind.
Meditation is like a single log of wood. Insight and investigation are one end of the log; calm and concentration are the other end. If you lift up the whole log, both sides come up at once. Which is concentration and which is insight? Just this mind.
The heart is just the heart; thoughts and feelings are just thoughts and feelings. Let things be just as they are.
The longing of my heart is a fairy portrait of myself: I want to be pretty; I want to eliminate facts and fill up the gap with charms.
Everything hangs on one's thinking.
I'm practicing the discipline of not having to have the last word.
I learned a long time ago that advice is a quick trip to nowhere. It's the commitment that only you can make in yourself, the responsibility to assume control of yourself.
The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light.
Your freedom when it loses its fetters becomes itself the fetter of a greater freedom.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.